There King Dunlap went Monday morning, walking off the practice field with James Collins, head athletic trainer, his escort.

It took an undisclosed ailment — not believed to be serious — for the Chargers left tackle to miss a play with the starters for the first time in training camp. It probably won't be the last time, however, someone other than Dunlap works at first-team left tackle.

As the notion Dunlap could be the team's Week 1 left tackle seems more plausible with each passing day he is featured there, the team remains committed to a competition. Max Starks replaced Dunlap at starting left tackle Monday and remained there all morning with Dunlap sidelined, an opportunity that won't be Starks' last.

He previously worked at first-team left tackle just once this camp.

That was Saturday, and the reps were few. D.J. Fluker needed a quick spell, so Dunlap moved to right tackle and Starks entered at left.

Beside that, it's been all Dunlap as the Chargers' first-team left tackle.

"He's done a nice job," McCoy said. "He understands the situation; I think they all do. We're trying to find the best five guys together. We're going to continue rolling the line throughout camp, even in the preseason we'll mix them with changes here and there."

That Dunlap replaced Fluker at right tackle Saturday and not Starks lends support to the idea Dunlap isn't set as the starting left tackle. If he was their man, Dunlap likely would have remained at left tackle with Starks, as a swing tackle, replacing Fluker.

Without rushing it, the Chargers want to make a decision at left tackle as soon as possible.

Doing so will allow all five starting linemen to jell as a unit. The reserve swing tackle, be it Starks or Dunlap, also could begin working at right tackle.

Dunlap has some time to rest. Chargers players get an off-day Tuesday.